All the way for Vivideel
It is a long way from a Friday afternoon win on the Ballarat Synthetic to a feature victory, but Vivideel indicated he was a stayer of promise on August 4.
Vivideel ($3) led throughout to score an easy 2-1/2 length win in the Sportsbet Loves Ballarat Benchmark 64 Handicap (2100m) beating Easy Road ($10) with Halcyon East ($9), 1-3/4 lengths away third.
Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, and ridden by Harry Coffey, the four-year-old, by Dundeel, was having just his fourth start and has now won two races.
Coffey bounced the gelding to the front and rated him perfectly allowing him to stride clear in the home straight, never looking in any danger.
Trainer Tony McEvoy said Vivideel had all the right markers to be a stayer.
“There is a gene test that we do which helps you back your judgement,” McEvoy said.
“He is a TT, so he is a real stayer.
“He still has to improve his temperament as he is still very immature in the head.
“But Vivideel did impress me today because he did it all from the front, third up out to 2100 (metres), a very, very good effort.”
McEvoy said he was confident Vivideel could stretch out to 2400 metres.
“We will see where he takes us, as I said, he is still immature.
“I’m not sure how much further we will go in the spring, as it might not be his time because he is still learning his craft.”
Winning jockey Harry Coffey believes Vivideel has a future.
“He jumped to the front and rolled along,” Coffey said.
“I just quickened from the 1000 (metres) and made it a bit of a catch me if you can and they didn’t get near me.
“It was a nice win, mentally he still has got a little way to go because he is hot and fiery.
“If he can calm down a bit, he might be able to go through the grades and win a few more.
“Riding him, he does feel like a horse that will be able to use his action, stride along and do it for a fair way. Today was a good example of that.”